Skin care compositions containing a polycyclic triterpene carboxylic acid and a retinoid

ABSTRACT

A polycyclic triterpene carboxylic acid in combination with either retinol or retinyl ester resulted in a synergistic inhibition of keratinocyte differentiation. The effects of polycyclic triterpene carboxylic acids in combination with retinol or retinyl ester were analogous to the treatment with retinoic acid.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to skin care compositions containing a polycyclic triterpene carboxylic acid and a retinoid, preferably retinol or retinyl ester.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Retinol (vitamin A) is an endogenous compound which occurs naturally in the human body and is essential for normal epithelial cell differentiation. Natural and synthetic vitamin A derivatives have been used extensively in the treatment of a variety of skin disorders and have been used as skin repair or renewal agents. Retinoic acid has been employed to treat a variety of skin conditions, e.g., acne, wrinkles, psoriasis, age spots and discoloration. See e.g., Vahlquist, A. et al., J. Invest. Dermatol., Vol, 94, Holland D. B. and Cunliffe, W. J. (1990), pp. 496-498; Ellis, C. N. et al., "Pharmacology of Retinols in Skin", Vasel, Karger, Vol. 3, (1989), pp. 249-252; Lowe, N.J. et al., "Pharmacology of Retinols in Skin", Vol. 3, (1989), pp. 240-248; PCT Patent Application No. WO 93/19743. It is believed that the use of retinol or esters of retinol would be preferred over retinoic acid. Retinol is an endogenous compound which occurs naturally in the human body and is essential for normal epithelial cell differentiation. Retinol is also considered much safer than retinoic acid. Esters of retinol hydrolyze in-vivo to produce retinol. Retinol and retinyl esters are considered safer than retinoic acid. The present invention is based, in part, on the discovery that a combination of retinol or a retinyl ester with a polycyclic triterpene carboxylic acid (hereinafter "PTCA") results in a synergistic inhibition of keratinocyte differentiation. The effects of PTCA combined with retinol or a retinyl ester were analogous to the effects of retinoic acid. Thus, a mixture of PTCA with retinol or retinyl esters mimics retinoic acid yet is easier and safer to use than retinoic acid.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes, in part, a skin conditioning composition containing:

(a) from about 0.001% to about 10% of a retinoid selected from the group consisting of retinol, a retinyl ester, and mixtures thereof;

(b) from about 0.0001% to about 50% of a polycyclic triterpene carboxylic acid; and

(c) a cosmetically acceptable vehicle.

The term "conditioning" as used herein means prevention and treatment of dry skin, photodamaged skin, appearance of wrinkles, age spots, aged skin, acne, skin lightening psoriasis, atopic dermatosis, increasing stratum corneum flexibility, controlling sebum excretion and generally increasing the quality of skin. The composition may be used to improve skin desquamation and cellular proliferation.

The presence of PTCA in the inventive product substantially improves the performance of retinol or a retinyl ester, i.e., PTCA substantially increases the ability of retinol or a retinyl ester to affect cellular differentiation. PTCA has no or little effect on improving skin benefit when used alone; a substantial increase in skin benefit is only realized when PTCA is combined with retinol or a retinyl ester. In short, the present invention is based, at least in part, on the discovery of synergistic interaction between retinol or a retinyl ester and PTCA.

According to the present invention, by virtue of including an effective amount of PTCA into compositions containing retinol or a retinyl ester, the performance of the compositions is substantially improved. Alternatively, lower levels of retinol or a retinyl ester may be included in the composition containing PTCA to equal the performance of a similar formulation without the PTCA.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The inventive compositions contain, as a first essential ingredient, a compound selected from the group consisting of retinol or a retinyl ester.

The term "retinol" includes the following isomers of retinol: all-trans-retinol, 13-cis-retinol, 11-cis-retinol, 9-cis-retinol, 3,4-didehydro-retinol. Preferred isomers are all-trans-retinol, 13-cis-retinol, 3,4-didehydro-retinol, 9-cis-retinol. Most preferred is all-trans-retinol, due to its wide commercial availability.

Retinyl ester is an ester of retinol. The term "retinol" has been defined above. Retinyl esters suitable for use in the present invention are C₁ -C₃₀ esters of retinol, preferably C₂ -C₂₀ esters, and most preferably C₂, C₃, and C₁₆ esters because they are more commonly available. Examples of retinyl esters include but are not limited to: retinyl palmirate, retinyl formate, retinyl acetate, retinyl propionate, retinyl butyrate, retinyl valerate, retinyl isovalerate, retinyl hexanoate, retinyl heptanoate, retinyl octanoate, retinyl nonanoate, retinyl decanoate, retinyl undecandate, retinyl laurate, retinyl tridecanoate, retinyl myristate, retinyl pentadecanoate, retinyl heptadeconoate, retinyl stearate, retinyl isostearate, retinyl nonadecanoate, retinyl arachidonate, retinyl behenate, retinyl linoleate, retinyl oleate, retinyl lactate, retinyl glycolate, retinyl hydroxy caprylate, retinyl hydroxy laurate, retinyl tarfarate.

The preferred ester for use in the present invention is selected from retinyl palmirate, retinyl acetate and retinyl propionate, because these are the most commercially available and therefore the cheapest. Retinyl linoleate is also preferred due to its efficacy.

The retinoid is employed in the inventive composition in an amount of from about 0.001% to about 10%, preferably in an amount of from about 0.01% to about 1%, most preferably in an amount of from about 0.01% to about 0.5%.

The second essential ingredient of the inventive compositions is PTCA. The structure of PTCA is as follows: ##STR1## wherein R₁ is COOH or H or an aliphatic hydrocarbon chain containing from 1 to 5 carbon atoms;

R₂ and R₃ are each independently selected from H or an aliphatic hydrocarbon chain containing from 1 to 5 carbon atoms;

R₄ is COOH or an aliphatic hydrocarbon chain containing from 1 to 5 carbon atoms;

R₅ is H or C═O

R₆ is OH or O-saccharide group

Preferably, R₁ is COOH or H or CH₃ ;

R₂ and R₃, each, is H or CH₃ ;

R₄ is COOH or CH₃ ;

R₆ is OH or OR₇

wherein OR₇ has the following structure: ##STR2##

Preferably, PTCA is a pentacyclic triterpene monocarboxylic acid.

Most preferably, PTCA is selected from the group consisting of ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, glycerrhetinic and glycyrrhizic acid, which have R₁ -R₆ as defined in the table below.

    ______________________________________                                         PTCA      R.sub.1 R.sub.2 R.sub.3                                                                             R.sub.4                                                                               R.sub.5                                                                             R.sub.6                             ______________________________________                                         Ursolic   H       CH.sub.3                                                                               CH.sub.3                                                                            COOH   H    OH                                  Oleanolic CH.sub.3                                                                               CH.sub.3                                                                               H    COOH   H    OH                                  Glycyrrhizic                                                                             COOH    CH.sub.3                                                                               H    CH.sub.3                                                                              C═O                                                                             OR.sup.7                            Glycyrrhetinic                                                                           COOH    CH.sub.3                                                                               H    CH.sub.3                                                                              C═O                                                                             OH                                  ______________________________________                                    

PTCA may be obtained from Aldrich and Sigma. Plant extracts containing PTCA are suitable for use in the present invention, e.g. Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary), Diospyros spp. (persimmon), Forsythia suspensa (forsythia), Lavandula angustifolia (lavender), Prunella vulgaris (selfheal), Paeonia lactifolia, Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice).

It should be understood that depending on the pH of the composition, PTCA may be present in the composition as a salt, e.g. alkali or alkaline earth salt.

PTCA is included in the inventive compositions in an amount ranging from about 0.0001% to about 50%, preferably from about 0.01% to about 10%, most preferably from about 0.1% to about 5%.

Cosmetically Acceptable Vehicle

The composition according to the invention also comprises a cosmetically acceptable vehicle to act as a dilutant, dispersant or carrier for the active components in the composition, so as to facilitate their distribution when the composition is applied to the skin.

Vehicles other than water can include liquid or solid emollients, solvents, humectants, thickeners and powders. An especially preferred nonaqueous carrier is a polydimethyl siloxane and/or a polydimethyl phenyl siloxane. Silicones of this invention may be those with viscosities ranging anywhere from about 10 to 10,000,000 centistokes at 25° C. Especially desirable are mixtures of low and high viscosity silicones. These silicones are available from the General Electric Company under trademarks Vicasil, SE and SF and from the Dow Corning Company under the 200 and 550 Series. Amounts of silicone which can be utilized in the compositions of this invention range anywhere from 5 to 95%, preferably from 25 to 90% by weight of the composition.

The cosmetically acceptable vehicle will usually form from about 5 to about 99.9%, preferably from about 25 to about 80% by weight of the composition, and can, in the absence of other cosmetic adjuncts form the balance of the composition.

Optional Skin Benefit Materials and Cosmetic Adjuncts

An oil or oily material may be present, together with an emulsifier to provide either a water-in-oil emulsion or an oil-in-water emulsion, depending largely on the average hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) of the emulsifier employed.

Various types of active ingredients may be present in cosmetic compositions of the present invention. Various types of active ingredients may be present in cosmetic compositions of the present invention. Actives are defined as skin or hair benefit agents other than emollients and other than ingredients that merely improve the physical characteristics of the composition. Although not limited to this category, general examples include sunscreens, tanning agents.

Sunscreens include those materials commonly employed to block ultraviolet light. Illustrative compounds are the derivatives of PABA, cinnamate and salicylate. For example, octyl methoxycinnamate and 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy benzophenone (also known as oxybenzone) can be used. Octyl methoxycinnamate and 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy benzophenone are commercially available under the trademarks, Parsol MCX and Benzophenone-3, respectively. The exact amount of sunscreen employed in the emulsions can vary depending upon the degree of protection desired from the sun's UV radiation.

Another preferred optional ingredient is selected from essential fatty acids (EFAs), i.e., those fatty acids which are essential for the plasma membrane formation of all cells, in keratinocytes EFA deficiency makes cells hyperproliferative. Supplementation of EFA corrects this. EFAs also enhance lipid biosynthesis of epidermis and provide lipids for the barrier formation of the epidermis. The essential fatty acids are preferably chosen from linoleic acid, γ-linolenic acid, homo-γ-linolenic acid, columbinic acid, eicosa-(n-6,9,13)-trienoic acid, arachidonic acid, γ-linolenic acid, timnodonic acid, hexaenoic acid and mixtures thereof.

Yet another preferred optional ingredient is selected from azoles, e.g., climbazole, bifonazole, clotrimazole, ketoconazole, miconazole, econazole, itraconazole, fluconazole, terconazole, butoconazole, sulconazole, lionazole and mixtures thereof.

Emollients are often incorporated into cosmetic compositions of the present invention. Levels of such emollients may range from about 0.5% to about 50%, preferably between about 5% and 30% by weight of the total composition. Emollients may be classified under such general chemical categories as esters, fatty acids and alcohols, polyols and hydrocarbons,

Esters may be mono- or di-esters. Acceptable examples of fatty di-esters include dibutyl adipate, diethyl sebacate, diisopropyl dimerate, and dioctyl succinate. Acceptable branched chain fatty esters include 2-ethyl-hexyl myristate, isopropyl stearate and isostearyl palmitate. Acceptable tribasic acid esters include triisopropyl trilinoleate and trilauryl citrate. Acceptable straight chain fatty esters include lauryl palmitate, myristyl lactate, oleyl eurcate and stearyl oleate. Preferred esters include coco-caprylate/caprate(a blend of coco-caprylate and coco-caprate), propylene glycol myristyl ether acetate, diisopropyl adipate and cetyl octanoate.

Suitable fatty alcohols and acids include those compounds having from 10 to 20 carbon atoms. Especially preferred are such compounds such as cetyl, myristyl, palmitic and stearyl alcohols and acids.

Among the polyols which may serve as emollients are linear and branched chain alkyl polyhydroxyl compounds. For example, propylene glycol, sorbitol and glycerin are preferred. Also useful may be polymeric polyols such as polypropylene glycol and polyethylene glycol. Butylene and propylene glycol are also especially preferred as penetration enhancers.

Exemplary hydrocarbons which may serve as emollients are those having hydrocarbon chains anywhere from 12 to 30 carbon atoms. Specific examples include mineral oil, petroleum jelly, squalene and isoparaffins.

Another category of functional ingredients within the cosmetic compositions of the present invention are thickeners. A thickener will usually be present in amounts anywhere from 0.1 to 20% by weight, preferably from about 0.5% to 10% by weight of the composition. Exemplary thickeners are cross-linked polyacrylate materials available under the trademark Carbopol from the B. F. Goodrich Company. Gums may be employed such as xanthan, carrageenan, gelatin, karaya, pectin and locust beans gum. Under certain circumstances the thickening function may be accomplished by a material also serving as a silicone or emollient. For instance, silicone gums in excess of 10 centistokes and esters such as glycerol stearate have dual functionality.

Powders may be incorporated into the cosmetic composition of the invention. These powders include chalk, talc, Fullers earth, kaolin, starch, smectite clays, chemically modified magnesium aluminum silicate, organically modified montmorillonite clay, hydrated aluminum silicate, fumed silica, aluminum starch octenyl succinate and mixtures thereof.

Other adjunct minor components may also be incorporated into the cosmetic compositions. These ingredients may include coloring agents, opacifiers, perfumes and preservatives (e.g., imidazolidinyl urea, dimethyl imidazolidinone and diazolidinyl urea). Amounts of these materials may range anywhere from 0.001% up to 20% by weight of the composition.

Use of the Composition

The composition according to the invention is intended primarily as a product for topical application to human skin, especially as an agent for conditioning and smoothening the skin, and preventing or reducing the appearance of wrinkled or aged skin.

In use, a small quantity of the composition, for example from 1 to 5 ml, is applied to exposed areas of the skin, from a suitable container or applicator and, if necessary, it is then spread over and/or rubbed into the skin using the hand or fingers or a suitable device.

Product Form and Packaging

The topical skin treatment composition of the invention can be formulated as a lotion, a fluid cream, a cream or a gel. The composition can be packaged in a suitable container to suit its viscosity and intended use by the consumer. For example, a lotion or fluid cream can be packaged in a bottle or a roll-ball applicator, or a capsule, or a propellant-driven aerosol device or a container fitted with a pump suitable for finger operation. When the composition is a cream, it can simply be stored in a non-deformable bottle or squeeze container, such as a tube or a lidded jar.

The invention accordingly also provides a closed container containing a cosmetically acceptable composition as herein defined.

The following specific examples further illustrate the invention, but the invention is not limited thereto. Retinoids used in the examples were obtained from Sigma. Ursolic and oleanolic acids were obtained from Aldrich. Glycyrrhizic acid was obtained from Sigma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cell Culture

Human keratinocytes, isolated from neonatal foreskin by trypsin treatment were grown in Dulbecco Modification Eagle (DME) Hams F12 (1:1) medium/10% fetal calf serum in the presence of irradiated 3T3 mouse fibroblasts for establishing dividing keratinocyte colonies. Cells were grown under the above condition until their second passage and kept frozen for future use. Frozen second passage keratinocytes were thawed and plated into the above medium and grown for five days before they were switched to a serum-free MCDB 153-based medium keratinocyte growth medium (KGM) from Clonetics Corporation, San Diego, Calif., containing 0.15 mM Ca, or keratinocyte serum-free media (KSFM) from GIBCO containing 0.09 mM Ca). On day 7, when the cells were 80-90% confluent, they were trypsinized and plated in the serum-free medium for the various experiments.

TRANSGLUTAMINASE ASSAY

Transglutaminase Assay and Keratinocyte Differentiation

During the process of terminal differentiation in the epidermis, a 15 nm thick layer of protein, known as the cornified envelope (CE) is formed on the inner surface of the cell periphery. The CE is composed of numerous distinct proteins which have been cross-linked together by the formation of N.sup.ε -(γ-glutamyl) lysine isodipeptide bonds catalyzed by the action of at least two different transglutaminases (TGases) expressed in the epidermis. TGase I is expressed in abundance in the differentiated layers of the epidermis, especially the granular layer, but is absent in the undifferentiated basal epidermis. Thus TGase I is a useful marker of epidermal keratinocyte differentiation with high TGase I levels indicating a more differentiated state. An ELISA based TGase I assay, using a TGase I antibody, was used to assess the state of differentiation of the cultured keratinocytes in the examples that follow.

For Example 1, the following procedure was used:

Keratinocytes (cultured as described above) were plated in 96 well plates at a density of 3,000 cells per well in 200 μl media. After incubation for four days the media was changed to media containing test compounds (six replicates per test). The cells were cultured for a further 72 hours after which time the media was aspirated and the plates stored at -70° C. Plates were removed from the freezer, and the cells washed with PBS. 100 μl sterile water was added and the cells were freeze fractured by freezing at -70° C. then thawing. The cells were incubated for one hour at room temperature (R/T) with PBS/3% BSA (wash buffer, bovine serum albumin), then rinsed with a fresh aliquot of wash buffer. Cells were incubated with 50 μl of primary antibodies monoclonal anti-human transglutaminase mouse antibody (IgG) obtained from Biomedical Industries diluted 1:2,000 in wash buffer for one hour, 37° C. then rinsed two times with wash buffer. Cells were then incubated with 50 μl of secondary antibody (Fab fragment, peroxidase conjugated anti-mouse IgG obtaining from Amersham) diluted 1:4,000 in wash buffer for one hour at 37° C., then rinsed two times with wash buffer. Cells were incubated with substrate solution (4 mg o-phenylene diamine and 3.3 μl 30% H₂ O₂ in 10 ml 0.1M citrate buffer pH 5.0) for five minutes, R/T, in darkness (under aluminum foil). The reaction was stopped by the addition of 50 μl 4N H₂ SO₄. The absorbance of samples was read at 492 nm in the plate reader. Out of the six replicates, four were treated with both antibodies, two were treated only with the secondary antibody (i.e., to determine background binding of enzyme conjugated Ab). TGase levels were determined by subtracting background from the readings from each treatment and determining mean±s.d. for the replicates exposed to both Ab.

For Examples 2 and 3, the following procedure was used:

Keratinocytes (cultured as described above) were plated in 96 well plates at a density of 3,000 cells per well in 200 μl of cell culture media. After incubation for four days, the media was changed to media containing test compounds (six replicates per test). The cells were cultured for a further 72 hours after which time the media was aspirated and the plates stored at -70° C. After the plates were removed from the freezer, the cells were further freezed fractured by freezing and thawing and then washed 3x with PBS. The cells were incubated for one hour at room temperature (R/T) with TBS/5% BSA buffer. Cells were then incubated with 100 μl of monoclonal anti-human transglutaminase (IgG) mouse antibody (primary antibody) obtained from Biomedical Technologies Inc. diluted 1:2000 in TBS/1% BSA buffer for two hours at 37° C., and then rinsed six times with wash buffer (TBS/1% BSA/0.05% Tween-20). Cells were next incubated with 100 μl of Fab fragment, peroxidase conjugated anti-mouse IgG antibody (secondary antibody) from Amersham diluted 1:4,000 in wash buffer for two hours at 37° C. and then rinsed three times with wash buffer and three times with PBS. Cells were incubated with substrate solution (4mg o-phenylene diamine and 3.3 μl 30% H₂ O₂ in 10 mL 0.1M citrate buffer, pH 5.0) for five minutes at R/T and in darkness (under aluminum foil). The reaction was stopped by the addition of 50 μl 4N H2SO4. The absorbance of samples was read at 492 nm in the plate reader. Out of the six replicates, four were treated with both antibodies, two were treated only with the secondary antibody (i.e., to determine the background binding of the enzyme conjugated antibody). Transglutaminase I levels were determined by subtracted background from the readings from each treatment and determining the mean s.d. for the replicates exposed to both antibodies.

DNA Assay

The level of TGase-1 detected after treatment of the cells could be influenced by cell number, i.e., the greater the number of cells the greater the level of TGase-1 detected. The level of TGase-1 was normalized to DNA content of the cells in the same well thus eliminating variation due to differences in cell number. DNA quantitation is a particularly useful indicator of cell number, including keratinocyte cell number, because each cell has to all intents and purposes an identical genome and therefore an identical quantity of DNA. The total DNA content of a well of cells therefore is directly proportional to the cell number in that well. Quantitation of DNA was used to normalize the TGase data to cell number.

Keratinocytes were plated in 96 well plates at a density of 3,000 cells per well in 200 μl media. After incubation for four days the media was changed for media containing test compounds (6 replicates per test). The cells were cultured for a further 72 hours after which time the media was aspirated and the plates stored for at least 1.5 hours at -70° C. Plates were removed from the freezer and thawed for 30 minutes. 100 μl/well of Hoechst dye (1 μg/ml final concentration) was added and this was incubated for 15 minutes, covered and then read in a fluorimeter (ex. 360 nm and em. 460 nm). The dye solution was removed and the wells were rinsed with PBS in preparation for the TGase assay.

EXAMPLE 1 Retinoic acid is more effective than retinol at altering keratinocyte differentiation state

The effect on Transglutaminase levels normalized to DNA content of the cells after addition of retinoic acid and retinol was examined and the results are shown in Table 1.

                                      TABLE 1                                      __________________________________________________________________________              mean TGase/                                                                    DNA × 10.sup.-4 ± s.d                                                           p value vs                                                                          p value vs                                                                          p value vs                                                                          p value vs                                   Treatment                                                                               (% control)                                                                              Control                                                                             10.sup.-7 ROH                                                                       10.sup.-8 ROH                                                                       10.sup.-9 ROH                                __________________________________________________________________________     Control  2.44 ± 0.24 (100%)                                                                    --   0.001                                                                               0.001                                                                               0.001                                        2.5 × 10.sup.-7 M RA                                                              0.16 ± 0.11 (7%)                                                                      0.001                                                                               0.001                                                                               0.001                                                                               0.001                                        2.5 × 10.sup.-7 M ROH                                                             1.14 ± 0.22 (47%)                                                                     0.001                                                                               --   0.001                                                                               0.001                                        2.5 ± 10.sup.-8 M RA                                                                 1.34 ± 0.40 (55%)                                                                     0.001                                                                               0.2  0.001                                                                               0.001                                        2.5 × 10.sup.-8 M ROH                                                             1.89 ± 0.30 (77%)                                                                     0.001                                                                               0.001                                                                               --   0.001                                        2.5 × 10.sup.-9 M RA                                                              1.87 ± 0.49 (77%)                                                                     0.001                                                                               0.001                                                                               0.784                                                                               0.001                                        2.5 × 10.sup.-9 M ROH                                                             2.70 ± 0.49 (>100%)                                                                   0.001                                                                               0.001                                                                               0.001                                                                               --                                           __________________________________________________________________________      n = 3                                                                    

All concentrations of retinoic acid tested, i.e., 2.5×10⁻⁷ M, 2.5×10⁻⁸ M and 2.5×10⁻⁹ M decreased keratinocyte differentiation over both the ethanol control and did so to a significantly greater extent than each of the corresponding 2.5×10⁻⁷ M, 2.5×10⁻⁸ M and 2.5×10⁻⁹ M retinol treatments. The decrease in transglutaminase level was dose dependent for both retinoic acid and retinol. This is consistent with retinoic acid having a greater inhibitory effect on epithelial differentiation than retinol.

EXAMPLE 2 Glycyrrhizic Acid and Retinol Synergistically Inhibit Keratinocyte Differentiation

The effect on transglutaminase 1 (TG1) levels normalised to DNA content of the cells was examined in response to a 72 hour treatment with the test compounds is shown in Table 2.

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                         Effect of Retinol and Glycyrrhizic Acid on Keratinocyte TGase/DNA                                           p    p    p value                                                      p       value                                                                               value                                                                               vs                                               mean TGase/ value   vs   vs   10.sup.-6                                        DNA × 10.sup.5 ± s.d                                                              vs      10.sup.-8                                                                           10.sup.-8                                                                           glycyrrhizic                            Treatment                                                                               (% control) Control ROH  RA   acid                                    ______________________________________                                         Control  12.15 ± 3.35                                                                            --      0.001                                                                               0.001                                                                               0.774                                            (100%)                                                                2.5 × 10.sup.-9 M                                                                 4.04 ± 1.23                                                                             0.001   0.001                                                                               --   0.001                                   RA       (33%)                                                                 2.5 × 10.sup.-9 M                                                                 8.29 ± 2.11                                                                             0.001   --   0.001                                                                               0.001                                   Retinol  (68%)                                                                 10.sup.-6 M                                                                             11.98 ± 3.00                                                                            0.774   0.001                                                                               0.001                                                                               --                                      Glycyrrhixic                                                                            (99%)                                                                 acid                                                                           2.5 × 10.sup.-9 M                                                                 5.41 ± 1.15                                                                             0.001   0.001                                                                               0.001                                                                               0.001                                   ROH + 10.sup.-6 M                                                                       (45%)                                                                 Glycyrrhizic                                                                   acid                                                                           ______________________________________                                          n = 3                                                                    

2.5×10⁻⁹ M retinoic acid was very effective at repressing keratinocyte TG1 levels (to 33%) of control level. 2.5×10⁻⁹ M retinol was less effective than retinoic acid and 10⁻⁶ M glycyrrhizic acid had no inhibitory effect on the keratinocyte TG1 level when used alone. However, 2.5×10⁻⁹ M retinol+10⁻⁶ M glycyrrhizic acid repressed keratinocyte TG1 to 45% of control levels. Glycyrrhizic acid and retinol therefore acted synergistically to repress keratinocyte differentiation in an analogous manner to the effect of retinoic acid.

EXAMPLE 3 Oleanolic Acid and Retinol Synergistically Inhibit Keratinocyte Differentiation

The effect on transglutaminase 1 (TG1)levels normalised to DNA content of the cells was examined in response to a 72 hour treatment with the test compounds is shown in Table 3.

                  TABLE 3                                                          ______________________________________                                         Effect of Retinol and Oleanolic Acid on Keratinocyte TGase/DNA                                              p    p    p value                                                      p       value                                                                               value                                                                               vs                                               mean TGase/ value   vs   vs   10.sup.-6                                        DNA × 10.sup.5 ± s.d                                                              vs      10.sup.-7                                                                           10.sup.-7                                                                           Oleanolic                               Treatment                                                                               (% control) Control ROH  RA   Acid                                    ______________________________________                                         Control  22.46 ± 2.05                                                                            --      0.001                                                                               0.001                                                                               0.774                                            (100%)                                                                2.5 × 10.sup.-7 M                                                                 9.95 ± 2.74                                                                             0.001   0.001                                                                               --   0.001                                   RA       (44%)                                                                 2.5 × 10.sup.-7 M                                                                 18.27 ± 3.30                                                                            0.001   --   0.001                                                                               0.001                                   Retinol  (81%)                                                                 10.sup.-6 M                                                                             20.95 ± 1.95                                                                            0.001   0.001                                                                               0.001                                                                               --                                      Oleanolic Acid                                                                          (93%)                                                                 2.5 × 10.sup.-7 M                                                                 14.83 ± 3.90                                                                            0.001   0.001                                                                               0.001                                                                               0.001                                   ROH ± 10.sup.-6 M                                                                    (66%)                                                                 Oleanolic Acid                                                                 ______________________________________                                          n = 3                                                                    

2.5×10⁻⁷ M retinoic acid was very effective at repressing keratinocyte TG1 levels (to 44%) of control level. 2.5×10⁻⁷ M retinol was less effective than retinoic acid and 10⁻⁶ M oleanolic acid had only a very slight inhibitory effect on the keratinocyte TG1 level when used alone. However, 2.5×10⁻⁷ M retinol+10⁻⁶ M oleanolic acid repressed keratinocyte TG1 to 66% of control levels. Oleanolic acid and retinol therefore act synergistically to repress keratinocyte differentiation in an analogous manner to the effect of retinoic acid.

In Examples 1-3, retinoic acid was used as positive control and reference compound against which the other compounds under analysis were compared. Retinoic acid, in a dose dependent manner increased thymidine incorporation and decreased transglutaminase I levels in skin keratinocytes. In other words retinoic acid decreased keratinocyte differentiation. Retinol was significantly less effective than retinoic acid at inhibiting keratinocyte differentiation.

The unexpected result of this study however was that the effect of retinol on cultured keratinocytes can be enhanced to levels approaching those of retinoic acid by combining retinol with a PTCA. This effect was not only greater than the effect of either retinol or the PTCA itself but the two ingredients acted in synergy with each other to promote a retinoic acid response on the keratinocytes.

The results in Examples 2 and 3 demonstrate that PTCA acts synergistically with retinol both to increase keratinocyte proliferation and decrease keratinocyte differentiation, mimicking the effect of retinoic acid.

EXAMPLE 4

This example illustrates a high internal phase water-in-oil emulsion incorporating the inventive composition.

    ______________________________________                                                           % w/w                                                        ______________________________________                                         Retinol             0.5                                                        Fully hydrogenated coconut oil                                                                     3.9                                                        Ursolic acid        5                                                          Brij 92*            5                                                          Bentone 38          0.5                                                        MgSO.sub.4 7H.sub.2 O                                                                              0.3                                                        Butylated hydroxy toluene                                                                          0.01                                                       Perfume             qs                                                         Water               to 100                                                     ______________________________________                                          *Brij 92 is polyoxyethylene (2) oleyl ether                              

EXAMPLE 5

This example illustrates an oil-in-water cream incorporating the inventive composition.

    ______________________________________                                                          % w/w                                                         ______________________________________                                         Retinoic acid      0.15                                                        Mineral oil        4                                                           Oleanolic acid     1                                                           Brij 56*           4                                                           Alfol 16RD*        4                                                           Triethanolamine    0.75                                                        Butane-1,3-diol    3                                                           Xanthan gum        0.3                                                         Perfume            qs                                                          Butylated hydroxy toluene                                                                         0.01                                                        Water              to 100                                                      ______________________________________                                          *Brij 56 is cetyl alcohol POE (10)                                             Alfol 16RD is cetyl alcohol                                              

EXAMPLE 6

This example illustrates an alcoholic lotion incorporating the composition according to the invention.

    ______________________________________                                                          % w/w                                                         ______________________________________                                         Retinyl palmitate  0.15                                                        Glycyrrhizic acid  0.1                                                         Ethanol            40                                                          Perfume            qs                                                          Butylated hydroxy toluene                                                                         0.01                                                        Water              to 100                                                      ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 7

This example illustrates another alcoholic lotion containing the inventive composition.

    ______________________________________                                                        % w/w                                                           ______________________________________                                         Retinol          0.15                                                          Glycyrrhetinic acid                                                                             0.1                                                           Ethanol          40                                                            Antioxidant      0.1                                                           Perfume          qs                                                            Water            to 100                                                        ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 8

This example illustrates a suncare cream incorporating the composition of the invention:

    ______________________________________                                                             % w/w                                                      ______________________________________                                         Retinol               0.01                                                     Ursolic acid          0.1                                                      Silicone oil 200 cts  7.5                                                      Glycerylmonostearate  3                                                        Cetosteryl alcohol    1.6                                                      Polyoxyethylene-(20)-cetyl alcohol                                                                   1.4                                                      Xanthan gum           0.5                                                      Parsol 1789           1.5                                                      Octyl methoxycinnate (PARSOL MCX)                                                                    7                                                        Perfume               qs                                                       Color                 qs                                                       Water                 to 100                                                   ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 9

This example illustrates a non-aqueous skin care composition incorporating the inventive combination.

    ______________________________________                                                          % w/w                                                         ______________________________________                                         Retinoic acid      0.15                                                        Oleanolic acid     1                                                           Silicone gum SE-30.sup.1                                                                          10                                                          Silicone fluid 345.sup.2                                                                          20                                                          Silicone fluid 344.sup.3                                                                          55.79                                                       Squalene           10                                                          Linoleic acid      0.01                                                        Cholesterol        0.03                                                        2-hydroxy-n-octanoic acid                                                                         0.7                                                         Vitamin E Iinoleate                                                                               0.5                                                         Herbal oil         0.5                                                         Ethanol            2                                                           ______________________________________                                          .sup.1 A dimethyl silicone polymer having a molecular weight of at least       50,000 and a viscosity of at least 10,000 centistokes at 25° C.,        available from GEC                                                             .sup.2 Dimethyl siloxane cyclicpentamer, available from Dow Corning Corp.      .sup.3 Dimethyl siloxane tetramer, available from Dow Corning Corp.      

It should be understood that the specific forms of the invention herein illustrated and described are intended to be representative only. Changes, including but not limited to those suggested in this specification, may be made in the illustrated embodiments without departing from the clear teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following appended claims in determining the full scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A skin conditioning composition comprising(a) from about 0.001% to about 10% of a retinoid selected from the group consisting of retinol, a retinyl ester and mixtures thereof; (b) from about 0.0001% to about 50% of a polycyclic triterpene carboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of oteanolic acid, ursolic acid, and glycyrrhetinic acid; and (c) a cosmetically acceptable vehicle.
 2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the retinyl ester is selected from the group consisting of retinyl palmitate, retinyl acetate, retinyl propionate, retinyl linoleate and mixtures thereof.
 3. The composition of claim 1 wherein ingredient (a) is retinol.
 4. The composition of claim 1 wherein ingredient (a) is a retinyl ester.
 5. A method of conditioning skin the method comprising applying topically to skin the composition of claim
 1. 6. A method of treating a skin condition selected from the group consisting of dry skin, photodamaged skin, appearance of wrinkles, age spots, aged skin, acne sebum control and skin lightening, the method comprising applying to the skin the composition of claim
 1. 